6 replies to this topic

[Morang]

For now I'm not quite familiar with cockpits of all mechs in game. I started to purchase more mechs recently. And it occured to me that Orion has dashboard design very similar to Spider - the same annoying bright horisontal fluorescent tubes under the panel, you know.

I don't think that it's coincidence that Orion is signature FWL mech, and Spider is manufactured in FWL too (in DracComb as well, but their totem light mechs are Jenner and Panther).

Do other mechs in the game share cockpit interiors similar to each other?

[9erRed]

Greetings,

The last I had read was, that 'Alex' does the Mech concept, design, and layout. He then hands it off to the next artist for the cockpit design stage and others for some variant related items. It's a back and forth till they nail down the new physical shape.

- Now that being said, the latest Mech designs appear to have a cockpit that actually 'fits' inside the Mech.
- Not what some of the earlier design indicate.

I'm sure there is now concern about what goes where on the construction and layout, especially since we have quite a few talented forum members that work with the Mech designs and check items like this.
(remembering a thread that showed the Spider and just trying to get a Pilot and cockpit inside, also issues with the cockpit being 'way' too large to fit in a Mech.)

On your concern about various cockpits being somewhat Faction orientated in there design an construction.

- From the initial start of earlier Mech designs I don't see it, separating or even having Factions was a long way off then. But as the new Mech's are being constructed the designers and concept artists will have to keep this in mind.
- Back then there was little reference material from the few Mech's, not so now, and they can attempt to keep similar items present to indicate one or more Factions preferences.
- Will we see a difference between what a Faction builds and operates, and what they offer for export?
- Will we start to see Faction specific styling? Perhaps some Japanese or Arabic telltale designs within the cockpit for a House Kurita built Mech, or Swiss and German precision from the FRR?

(note here to 'Alex', is this something that is considered when doing the cockpit layout? Or will now be considered?)

The various chassis of each Mech are 'in most cases' specifically designed to fulfil a designated roll, this should cause the cockpit to be somewhat altered to accommodate any new weapons systems and electronics. And as new tech is introduced the number of items in the layout should also change to reflect this, sometimes eliminating some items other times adding new devices.

- I would like to see changes made in the cockpit as the weapon types alter. Items related to mounting missiles or ballistics be linked to these layouts. (but that is asking a lot, as the geometry and placement would need to be radically all built again.)
~ just a thought.

9erRed

Edited by 9erRed, 04 October 2014 - 10:33 PM.

[RapidFire7]

Morang, on 04 October 2014 - 08:52 AM, said:

For now I'm not quite familiar with cockpits of all mechs in game. I started to purchase more mechs recently. And it occured to me that Orion has dashboard design very similar to Spider - the same annoying bright horisontal fluorescent tubes under the panel, you know.

I don't think that it's coincidence that Orion is signature FWL mech, and Spider is manufactured in FWL too (in DracComb as well, but their totem light mechs are Jenner and Panther).

Do other mechs in the game share cockpit interiors similar to each other?

I smell a conspiracy theory!
Cockpits match with Faction = HL3 confirmed



Would be neat if someone uploaded all cockpits to compare though

[Mech42Ace]

I'm sure some one here will take the liberty of doing that. But seriously, how many mechs are there total in this game? Be it the fact I've stopped playing means I can't check these things on my own.

And good news! This is my 200th post!! Just thought I'd share that.

Edited by Mech42Ace, 05 October 2014 - 08:59 PM.

[Morang]

OK, I found some more. Jagermech and Locust have the same dashboard too, with characteristic handlebars on sides (though central module design differs, and Locust board is brought closer to pilot and have extra lights). Thunderbolt and Victor share some certain similarities (same lower edge design bordered by blue glowing band, plus a pair of fuse boxes, especially one installed on the right top of the dashboard). Highlander and Shadow Hawk similarities are more vague (plus Shadow Hawk cockpit lacks lighting, so is hard to compare at all).

There are certain unique mechs, mostly of late design, that have (as it looks by now) unique cockpit design properties. Banshee's crude cockpit was mentioned in Dev Vlogs as their attempt to make design look old (the mech is one of the oldest in existence). Vindicator with brass panels and switches probably presents CapCon design. Commando is an old mech too, with crude-looking "fragmented" panel and yellow wiring conduits I saw only in its cockpit. Firestarter is stuffed with hoses, red wiring and switchboxes.

As it looks like there are no more direct copies of the dashbord desgn, I'll pay more attention now to more vague similarities and certain materials used in cockpit designs (grilles, padding, anti-slip surfaces).

There are many mechs still not checked by me. Cicada, Hunchback, Trebuchet, Griffin, Wolverine, Dragon, Awesome, Stalker, Battlemaster. I excluded Clan omnimechs for now, theirs is different story.

I'll add some pics later.

Edited by Morang, 05 October 2014 - 11:21 PM.

[Morang]

Orion and Spider




Jagermech and Locust




Thunderbolt and Victor.

[SnagaDance]

Nah, not really. While some mechs are really faction specific (like the aforementioned Panther) many of them have variants among all factions. Often indicated by the letter at the end of that model's variant. (M for Marik, D for Davion, K for Kurita, S for Steiner and L for Liao, FRR does not have this, this mostly applies to the 3025 mechs). Take a look at Sarna's entry for the Shadowhawk for instance: http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Shadowhawk